JOHNSON — HABIT OF THE SPOTTED SKUNK 
89 
It seemed as though the animal was endeavoring to aim the charge 
over its back at me, its instinct to face the enemy being too strong to 
permit it to turn about and thus be in a more favorable position to 
direct its weapon. 
My companion, who had remained an interested spectator from a 
httle distance, declared afterwards that whenever the skunk rose upon 
its fore feet a fine spray of vapor could be seen issuing from the vent. 
This I did not observe, probably because of my proximity and the 
angle of view. I was perfectly aware of course that discharges were 
being made. The anal sphincter was actively working whenever the 
erect posture was assumed; that is, when the skunk was in a position 
so that the vent could clearly be seen. 
After witnessing the above-described performance of the spotted 
skunk I am strongly inclined to believe that what has here by way of 
brevity been referred to as the “hand-stand” attitude is a common 
habit of this and perhaps also other species of skunks, under certain 
conditions. It is manifestly a defensive attitude primarily, and seems 
to be taken for the purpose of better directing the discharge of the vile 
secretion with which nature has provided these animals. The above 
noted facts are not sufficient in themselves to permit too many infer- 
ences or conclusions to be drawn from them, but they at least appear 
significant. The idea suggested itself that the erect attitude may 
possibly be resorted to by the skunk, and especially against such of its 
enemies as stand up higher from the ground, in order to aim the fluid 
at the most vulnerable part, namely the face. Against an intruder as 
tall as a man, at close range, there would seem to be no other way to 
effectively place its shot. Instinctively it is aimed at the face; and the 
higher the target the greater the elevation of the weapon. If it were 
attacked by a small dog it hardly seems likely that the skunk would 
elevate its body to the extreme that has been observed when on its 
defense against man, for that would be to overshoot the mark. On 
the other hand it may be that by assuming this attitude the skunk is 
able more quickly to surround its entire person with a defensive zone. 
But such points must be left for future observations or experiments to 
decide. 
Department of Zoology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kan. 
